Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre

Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre

Equator Prize for Sustainable Land Management in Sub-Saharan Africa

Reaching over 10,000 small-scale farmers, Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre provides agricultural extension services, research, and support marketing local products to local farmers. Demonstration plots are used for hands-on learning and for agricultural research. The center maintains a production site where dairy cows, sheep and other livestock are raised and the milk is sold to a neighboring cheese factory. Through extension services and direct training to farmers, the center has helped improve local maize yields to levels well above the national average, resulting in greater food security and improved incomes. Crop rotation, reforestation, new irrigation schemes and agricultural diversification have all contributed to the conservation and sustainable use of local ecosystems. Biodiversity fairs have been used to help farmers share knowledge on crop diversity, apiculture, and agroforestry techniques. The center oversees a village savings initiative, which has allowed several women to start small-scale enterprises.

Key Facts

Equator Prize Winner: 2014

Founded: 1974

Location: Chongwe and Rufunsa Districts, Zambia

Beneficiaries: 10,000 small-scale farmers

Area of Focus: Biodiversity, organic agriculture and
sustainable land management